Relatives who lost family members in the tragic West Pokot landslides are caught up in more sorrow due to the untraced bodies. The families have raised concerns over 16 bodies which are still missing, since the landslides too place close to two weeks ago.
They’ve said they were supposed to bury their loved ones next week but so far the bodies haven’t been recovered yet as the government has terminated the search for the bodies.
The relatives now want the government to tell them more concerning the recovery operation, fearing that they might be stumbling on the dead bodies that are already decomposing.
They’ve faulted the military for failing to recover bodies using the sniffer dogs, adding that the Kenyan government has neglected them.
Samuel Kapkama from Muino location, who is desperately searching for his relatives said they’ve been deserted since they lost 21 people from the entire location and 8 bodies haven’t been recovered.
He added that they are shocked the government hasn’t put more efforts in searching the bodies compared to the Solai tragedy. “We are saddened and still crying because we are wondering what we are going to bury, we have been searching for the bodies but in vain,” he said.
Julius Patakol from Nyarkulian area, said he is still haunted by his son’s wails calling for help as he was being buried alive. He said the government could have used sniffer dogs to help them recover the bodies but it seems it has neglected them.
The area leaders led by Governor John Lonyangapuo echoed their sentiments citing as a County government, they have exhausted their energy looking for the remaining bodies but it’s all been in vain.